So your car was stuck in a flood, now what do you do?

Over the weekend, torrential rain poured over most of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, flooding a number of areas in the process. If your car was submerged in the resulting flood, here’s what you need to do.

DO NOT attempt to start your car

First things first. You do not want to damage your car even further. DO NOT attempt to unlock your car using the remote, start your car, or drive your car. Instead, you should unlock your car using the mechanical key and disconnect your car's battery.

Also Read: Buying used cars: 6 signs of flood damage

If you own a hybrid and it got submerged in the flood, don’t worry as the safety cut-off is already enabled if water enters the hybrid battery pack.

Also Read: Buying a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid? Does it handle flooded roads poorer than regular cars?

Time to dig out all the documents and make a police report

Once you’ve disconnected your battery and unlocked your car, prepare the necessary documents to facilitate your insurance claim, like the location, time and date of where the car was flooded, photos of your flooded car and damages, copy of your driving license, identity card, car grant, and insurance policy.

You’ll also need to make a police report within 24 hours for the insurance claim.

Also Read: How driving through floods can damage your car, and here's how to do it safely

With the necessary documents and police report in hand, contact your insurance company and submit your claim request. Your insurance company will advice you on your next step. At the same time, it’s also a good idea to find out the betterment, flood coverage terms, and loss of vehicle use claims benefits while you’re on the phone with your insurance company.

Also Read: Pick-up trucks are not invincible in floods, here are 10 tips for driving through water

Expect a lot of delays

Speaking of which, judging from the extent of the flood and number of cars affected, expect a delay with tow trucks being overbooked and workshop / service centre.

Also Read: Buying a used car online? Here's how to avoid accident or flood-damaged cars

Furthermore, once you’ve managed to get your car towed to your designated workshop / service centre, expect at least a 2 week delay before the assessment is complete as insurance adjusters will be overwhelmed with claim requests.

Note that workshops cannot start repair works on your car until the insurance adjuster's assesment report is done.

Also Read: Don't drive through flooded roads with your air-cond on, here's why

With the sheer number of cars the workshop / service centre has to deal with, you’ll need to expect at least a 1.5-month to 2-month delay before your car is fixed.

In the mean time, you may have to resort to car subscription services like GoCar Subs; you can subscribe to a Proton Saga, Perodua Bezza, or Perodua Myvi from as low as RM 799 a month.

One more thing to take note of

Even though your car has been repaired, it won't be an easy task to remove the stench from your car's cabin. Consider sunning your car with the windows down, as well as doors and boot opened to eliminate the stench.